Motivated by Paralympic debut, national para-shooter Daniel Chan eyes 2025 SEA Games
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President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi, at a Team Singapore reception for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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SINGAPORE – Since returning to Singapore after the Paris Paralympics, national para-shooter Daniel Chan has afforded himself only a two-day break before starting training again as he eyes his next major event – the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok.
Chan, who has Erb’s palsy, a condition which damaged the nerves in his left arm, is hoping to qualify for the meet as shooting is not included in the next Asean Para Games, which will also be held in Thailand, in January 2026.
But with his personal best of 573 points in the men’s 10m pistol event off the qualifying mark of 575, the 37-year-old has been putting in the hours at the shooting range to improve his scores.
His Paralympic debut in Paris, where he narrowly missed out on a final spot after finishing 10th in the 10m air pistol SH1 qualification, has also served as motivation.
He said: “After competition there were a lot of questions in my head about what I could do better...
“I was eager to get back to start and I have been working with my coach on how to refine my technique, starting from basics again.”
Chan was speaking on the sidelines of a Team Singapore reception for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics at the National Stadium’s Bank of Singapore Lounge on Oct 18.
The event was graced by guest of honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse Ms Jane Ittogi.
Being more disciplined in things like his diet and improving the mental aspect of his game are things that Chan is working on in his bid to qualify for the SEA Games.
Also back in training is foil fencer and two-time Olympian Amita Berthier.
After the Paris Games, she spent six weeks travelling to Nice, Geneva and Lyon, where her paternal grandparents live.
Berthier has not been able to do proper sparring yet as she recovers from an ulcer behind her left knee, but has been working with her coach Oleg Matseichuk and going to the gym four to five times a week.
While the 23-year-old exited in the Olympics’ round of 32
Berthier said: “I really felt like I was a good contender, came really close, and lost closely to the girl who got the silver medal.
“Because I came so close in the first round, I know my standard has improved and increased since the last Olympics, so I’m using that as motivation to reach where I deserve to be in LA (2028 Olympics).”
For badminton mixed doubles pair Terry Hee and Jessica Tan, whose Olympic debuts ended in the group stage
“After we got married in 2021, we went for a tournament the following week and it has been competition after competition since then to try to qualify for Paris 2024,” said the 31-year-old Tan, who had ankle and hip injuries before the Olympics and suffered a left hamstring injury at September’s Macau Open.
“So, we decided to prioritise physical and mental self-care, and take a break.”
The couple will take about a month off, before going back to training for the 2025 season which starts with the Malaysia Open in January.
Hee, 29, said: “We want to win more matches and break into the top 10.
“Of course, if our conditions permit, we will want to play at another Olympics.”
Kayaker Stephenie Chen has been travelling to Xi’an, Johor Bahru and Bali, with a trip to South Korea lined up before heading to Australia in November to resume training.
“I learnt from Paris 2024 that I’m a lot harder on myself than I need to be, and I need to take time to enjoy the process a bit more, rather than constantly beat myself up about my performance,” said the 32-year-old, who finished seventh out of eight in the women’s canoe sprint K1 500m Final C in Paris.
“But it’s been a good break so far, two months which is the longest break in my career, to recharge and come back ready for a new season.”
